Tag Archives: Philippines

Philippines Research Update: Talking to fishermen, tracking down dugongs

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This will be the final installment of the research updates I wrote while working in the Philippines.  The main objective of the research arm of our project was to establish whether dugongs (Dugong dugon), an endangered marine mammal species related to manatees, were still present in the island group in northern Palawan where we were working. Dugongs used to be present in large numbers in the Philippines, but hunting pressure and incidental bycatch of dugongs in fishing gear has led to their decline in recent decades. Where once there were herds of 25 animals or more it is now rare to see one or two. Our task was to interview the local fishermen in different communities around Busuanga to find out what they knew about the presence of dugongs in their fishing grounds, and to discover the local attitudes towards dugongs and their conservation. This was by far the most exciting part of our conservation research, and an amazing way to get to see daily life through the eyes of families who have been living in these villages for decades or even generations.

A typical house in the Tagbanua community. The Tagbanua are the locally indigenous people of Palawan, and although they live together with Filipinos originating from all parts of the country in Busuanga they will often live in close-knit communities within or on the outskirts of these rural towns.

Children from the Tagbanua community in Concepcion.

A fisherman being interviewed outside his home in Concepcion. On the left is our fearless program assistant and Tagalog translator Jessa!

A fisherman indicating dugong sightings on a map of the area. During interviews fishermen were asked to give specific locations, dates and times of sightings as well as any human interactions they observed. 

While I heard some amazing (and recent!) stories about dugong sightings, what was amazing about these conversations was that older fishermen would consistently bring up how important they thought it was that people in the community care for the dugongs and marine life. Many fishermen said that seeing the dugongs made them happy and content, and that they were concerned about the recent decline in dugong numbers because they wanted their children and grandchildren to also know about these animals and be able to enjoy them. I was repeatedly surprised by the honesty of many of the responses we received, and the overall concern these fishermen have for the long-term health of their marine resources.  With so much cooperation and support for our presence in these communities future phases of this project will now be able to directly assess the status of dugongs and their habitat in the areas of highest concern. To find out more about this and other projects conducted by Community Centred Conservation (C3) you can check out their facebook page; http://www.facebook.com/C3update, and to read my full review of the experience as well as those of others you can check out their intern review blog at http://c3experiences.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/c3-internship-review-diana-dishman-philippines-2011/. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little taste of conservation and outreach in the Philippines – PDXWildlife is hoping to kick off its own community outreach projects to help conserve our local wildlife soon, so keep checking back to see what new projects may be coming up!

Sunset in Coron.

A coastal way of life

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Although Manila (the capital city of the Philippines) has over 11.5 million inhabitants, the majority of the population still lives in rural areas, and over 60% of the population lives in coastal areas. A large proportion of the population is therefore reliant on coastal resources for their food and livelihood.  From a young age children are taught boatmanship and fishing, and many are expected to begin contributing to their families before they finish secondary school.

Coastal communities are also poorly connected by land-based infrastructure, and rely on boat transport to move people and goods between hubs and smaller, remote communities. Unfortunately the prevalence of manufactured foods and goods and their popularity throughout the Philippines has resulted in local communities which are almost wholly dependent on importing their goods from elsewhere.  Throughout Busuanga Island the rural barangays produce very little of the meat, eggs, or vegetables they consume, and indeed few people know how to work their land in the way older generations did. This results in a constant flow of goods and people between transport hubs and small barangay ports, increases the cost of food to people in rural areas, and makes these communities vulnerable to being cut-off from supplies during inclement weather. Fishing is the one source of food that can be provided locally in each barangay, but because fish stocks in the Philippines are currently in decline this one food source will not lead to food security or a sustainable economy for these communities. Efficient use of agriculture, appropriate fish harvest, and alternative sources of income will all be necessary for these coastal communities to lessen their dependence on imported goods and develop sustainable local economies.

Two young boys fishing using a net and a hook and line from their small banca.

View from a typical ‘banca’, a ubiquitous outrigger canoe-style boat which can be powered by motor or paddle.

Bancas moored at the pier.

-Diana

Marine Conservation in the Philippines

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Welcome to the Philippines –

An extensive archipelago of over 7,000 tropical islands in the western Pacific Ocean, the Republic of the Philippines is a hotspot of terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Separated from mainland Southeast Asia by the South China Sea and from Indonesia by the Sulu Sea, the Philippines are the northernmost extension of an area known as the Coral Triangle, the global center of marine biodiversity and a top priority for global conservation efforts.

Juxtaposed against its wealth of natural resources, the Philippines is also one of the most populous countries in the world with over 94 million inhabitants. The rapidly growing population coupled with the relatively new industrialization of the economy has left the extensive natural resources of the country vulnerable to exploitation and destruction. It has also led to staggering social inequity in which the poorest rural communities have few means to generate income other than extracting natural resources.

As a volunteer with an international NGO, my work here is to develop marine conservation efforts by conducting surveys of marine habitats and endangered species as well as building the capacity of the local community to successfully manage and conserve their own resources. The project is focused on the remote western region of Palawan, where biodiversity is at its highest and many natural resources remain intact. The Calamianes Island group of northern Palawan is sparsely populated compared to other areas and still has significant expanses of pristine coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves which support many important fisheries and endangered species. The endangered dugong (Dugong dugon) was once distributed throughout these islands, and at least three species of sea turtles can be found here as well. The aims of our conservation efforts are therefore to protect the marine resources that still exist in this area by raising awareness among local communities about how they can be sustainably managed.

Denicolan Island in the Calamianes Island group of Northern Palawan, Philippines

Coron Island with its extensive sheltered coves, lagoons, and brackish water lakes.

Inland Busuanga Island is still largely agricultural, with rice terraces and cattle ranching dominating the landscape.

A typical rural ‘barangay’ or village on Busuanga Island

Even in the most isolated island groups, such as the Calamianes, there are still small but densely populated towns which supply rural communities with manufactured goods. In turn, they rely on the natural resources from these areas to feed their population.

A view of the major town on Busuanga Island. Crowded conditions are the norm here.

The island archipelagos not only have extensive marine resources but are also home to freshwater and brackish lakes with unique, isolated ecosystems.

Sunset on North Cay Island.

-Diana (via Meg)